The College of Agriculture at Tennessee State University (TSU) leads the 1890 Center of Excellence for Land, Water, and Resource Management (COE-LWRM), a collaborative research, education, and Extension initiative involving 15 1890 land-grant universities. The Center is housed within the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research (IAER) at Tennessee State University.

COE-LWRM brings together faculty, students, researchers, Extension professionals, producers, and partner institutions to address priorities related to forests, agricultural production, soil and water resources, and workforce preparation. Through collaborative research, education, Extension, and hands-on training, the Center develops practical knowledge and tools that support agricultural producers, natural resource professionals, students, and communities.

Major Goals and Thrust Areas

The Center's activities are organized around four major areas:

1. Forest Health, Productivity, and Resilience
   Improve forest health and productivity through research on forest assessment, regeneration, restoration, wildlife populations, soil processes, and tools that support forest management and decision-making.

2. Farm Productivity, Profitability, and Resilience
   Improve agricultural productivity and profitability through research on cropping systems, precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, livestock and aquaculture production, nutrient management, irrigation, and other technologies that help producers make informed management decisions.

3. Soil Health and Water Quality
   Strengthen soil and water resource management through research on soil function, nutrient cycling, water movement, runoff, water-quality monitoring, contaminant movement, GIS, remote sensing, and predictive tools.

4. Workforce Training and Development
   Prepare high school, undergraduate, and graduate students for careers in agriculture and natural resource fields through hands-on research, mentoring, technical training, internships, and career preparation. The Center also supports faculty development and collaboration among participating 1890 institutions.

These areas bring together expertise from multiple disciplines and institutions to strengthen research, education, and Extension programs while expanding opportunities for students, faculty, producers, and other stakeholders.

COE-LWRM Partner Institutions

Tennessee State University serves as the lead institution for COE-LWRM and works collaboratively with 14 additional 1890 land-grant universities:

• Alabama A&M University
• Alcorn State University
• Central State University
• Florida A&M University
• Fort Valley State University
• Kentucky State University
• Langston University
• Lincoln University
• North Carolina A&T State University
• Prairie View A&M University
• South Carolina State University
• Southern University
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Together, this 15-university network strengthens research capacity, expands opportunities for students and faculty, and promotes collaboration across the 1890 land-grant university system.
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COE-LWRM News

8/24/2026

Our COE colleague Dr. Kamal Gosh has been selected for a Fulbright Association U.S. Scholar Award for the 2026-2027 academic year, coinciding with the Fulbright Program's 80th anniversary. Through this award, Dr. Gosh will conduct research in Bangladesh to examine fisheries sector”s post-harvest losses and changes in nutritional quality in fish products, with a particular focus on the iconic Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) fishery. The project will investigate how handling, preservation, and value-chain practices influence food quality, nutritional value, sustainability, and food security.

The research will combine field surveys, focus groups, and laboratory analyses to quantify post-harvest losses, assess nutritional impacts, and evaluate preservation practices. In addition, Dr. Gosh will contribute to teaching and student training at the host institution by integrating research findings into undergraduate and graduate education. The project is expected to strengthen international research collaborations, inform fisheries policy, support stakeholders across fisheries value chains, and generate practical strategies to reduce losses, enhance food security, and promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture systems. Dr. Gosh is honored to join the global Fulbright community and contribute to international partnerships that advance research, education, and sustainable food systems.

7/10/2026

Conclusion of the 2026 RANGE Summer Research Program

The Tennessee State University College of Agriculture, through the USDA-NIFA Center of Excellence for Land, Water, and Resource Management (COE-LWRM), successfully concluded the 2026 Research and Applied Natural Resource Growth Experience (RANGE), a four-week residential summer research program designed for rising high school juniors and seniors.

Twenty-five students from across Tennessee participated in immersive, faculty-mentored research experiences spanning agriculture, environmental science, forestry, animal science, soil science, plant genetics, precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, water resources, and natural resource management. Working alongside faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, participants gained firsthand experience in laboratory research, field investigations, data collection, scientific communication, and problem-solving.

In addition to research, students participated in professional development workshops, leadership activities, college readiness sessions, field trips, and interactions with scientists and industry professionals. The program concluded with a research symposium where students presented their projects to faculty, mentors, family members, and invited guests.

RANGE continues to serve as an important workforce development and student recruitment initiative, inspiring the next generation of scientists, agricultural professionals, and natural resource leaders while introducing students to opportunities at Tennessee State University and the College of Agriculture.

The College of Agriculture extends its sincere appreciation to the faculty mentors, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, staff, chaperones, and families whose commitment made the 2026 RANGE program a success.

6/20/2026

Excited to welcome the 2026 cohort of the Research and Applied Natural Resource Growth Experience (RANGE) at Tennessee State University!

Over the next four weeks, approximately 25 talented high school students from across the region will live on campus and work alongside faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers in hands-on research experiences. Participants will explore topics including soil health, water quality, ecosystem resilience, forest and wetland management, precision agriculture, drones, sensors, in agriculture, and other emerging technologies shaping the future of natural resource management.

RANGE is more than a summer research program it is an investment in the next generation of scientists, researchers, agricultural professionals, and community leaders. We are grateful to our faculty mentors, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, staff, and families for helping make this opportunity possible.

We look forward to a summer of discovery, learning, mentorship, and growth.

5/15/2026

Congratulations to the COE-LWRM faculty participants selected for the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) 2026 Overseas Faculty Development Seminar in India.

Representing Tennessee State University are Dr. Sougata Bardhan, Dr. Felix Ogunmokun, and Dr. Bharat Pokharel. Partner institution faculty participants include Dr. Kamal Ghosh from Langston University, Dr. Tumen Wuliji from Lincoln University, Dr. Lucy Ngatia from Florida A&M University, and Dr. Wong Yang from Alabama A&M University.

The fully funded seminar, “India: Traditions and Innovations in Agriculture and Forestry,” is organized by CAORC and the Center of Excellence for Land, Water, and Resource Management (COE-LWRM) in partnership with the American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS).

Participants will engage in site visits and collaborative exchanges with university faculty and NGO researchers across Delhi, Dehradun, Chennai, and Agra, exploring topics including agriculture, forestry, water quality, natural resource management, precision agriculture, and artificial intelligence.

We are proud to see COE-LWRM faculty representing their institutions on a global stage while advancing teaching, research, collaboration, and international learning opportunities across the 1890 system.

4/22/2026

College of Agriculture Successfully Launches CEA Workshop Series with Blueberry Transplanting and Deans' Keynotes
The College of Agriculture is proud to announce the resounding success of its inaugural Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) hands-on workshop, held concurrently with the university's Earth Day celebration. The well-attended event provided participants (27) with practical, science-based skills in urban food production.

Demonstrating the university’s commitment to innovative, sustainable agriculture, Dean Dr. Chandra Reddy and Associate Dean Dr. Fulya Baysal-Gurel were present to officially launch the workshop series. Their keynote remarks highlighted the critical role that technologies like CEA play in food security and environmental stewardship, key themes for Earth Day.

Under expert guidance, workshop participants engaged in hands-on learning, mastering pruning techniques and diagnosing plant health before transplanting blueberry plants into raised beds filled with specialized soilless media, including sphagnum peat moss. This experiential learning opportunity gave students and research associates practical tools for creating efficient, productive backyard edible landscapes.
This successful kickstart is the first of several planned workshops designed to empower the community with innovative horticultural techniques.
For additional information on the CEA workshop series, please contact Dr. Dharma Pitchay at dpitchay@tnstate.edu .


4/8/2026

Congratulations to Dorcas Tolulope Kayode —Royaldamsel mentored by Dr. Felix Ogunmokun ( hashtag #SPHERELAB ) for winning the 2026 Grant A. Harris Research Award from METER Group.

​Her research on Decoupling Matrix Repellency from Macropore Flow in Forest Soils is pushing boundaries here at the Tennessee State University, TSU College of Agriculture. This work is supported through the COE-LWRM grant, advancing research in soil and water processes within natural resource systems.

4/1/2026

The COE-LWRM at Tennessee State University hosted a special session at the 2026 ARD Biennial Research Symposium in New Orleans on 31st March 2026, highlighting collaborative research across the 1890 land-grant network. The session featured 26 oral and 18 poster presentations from faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students, showcasing advancements in natural resource management, forest health, precision agriculture and AI, ecosystem health, water quality, and workforce development.

Kaya Mitchell from Tennessee State University, mentored by Dr. Tom Byl, earned third place in the Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment category for the undergraduate oral presentation competition. At the same time, our colleague from Langston University celebrated exceptional success with students advised by Dr. Kamal Gosh, where Tremar Ivey received first place and Jasmine Price earned second place in undergraduate oral presentations. 

Announcements

Summer Internship Opportunities – COE-LWRM (2026) - Closed

Our Goals

• Forest Health, Productivity, and Resilience
• Farm Productivity, Profitability, and Resilience
• Soil Health and Water Quality
• Workforce Training and Development in Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences

Natural Resources Management, Conservation and Forest Health

Coordinator/ Lead: Dr. William Sutton and Dr. Yong Wang (AAMU)

• Dr. Bharat Pokharel: Predictive Mapping of Plant Species as an Indicator of Forest Ecosystem Health
• Dr. William Sutton, Dr. Yong Wang (AAMU), and Dr. Xiongwen Chen (AAMU): Forest and Wildlife Responses to Forest Management and Forest Structure and Vegetation Dynamics
• Dr. Lucy Ngatia: Forest management impacts on carbon and nutrient turnover rates in hurricane-affected ecosystems under evolving environmental conditions
• Dr. Yong Wang (AAMU), and Dr. Xiongwen Chen (AAMU): Estimation and modeling of forest carbon storage dynamics disturbed with prescribed and forest thinning
• Dr. Sarah Neumann: Forest Ecology and plant-soil feedbacks as a mechanism for shaping community composition, structure and productivity of temperate and tropical forests
• Dr. Jonatha R Crummings (UMES), and Dr. Xuefeng Li (UMES) : Belowground nutrient dynamics and root turnover in forest ecosystems
• Dr. Zhu Ning (Southern University): Impact of Urban Forests for Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Precision Agriculture and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Coordinator/Thurst Area Leader: Dr. Chandra Reddy

• Dr. Philip Hinson: Cropping systems and farm profitability
• Dr. Dharma Pitchay: Precision crop nutrition
• Dr. Behnaz Molaei: Precision irrigation and crop water management
• Dr. Clement Akumu: Drone technology, precision weed management, and UAS
• Dr. Chenchen Kang: Agricultural robotics and automation
• Dr. Richard Browning Jr.: Livestock breeding and grazing management
• Dr. Kamal Gosh (Langston): Aquaculture and fish health
• Dr. Zaira Estrada Reyes (PVAMU): Precision sheep production
• Dr. Thomas Terrill (FVSU): Small-ruminant health and parasite management
• Dr. Aftab Siddique (FVSU): AI and precision livestock management
• Dr. Tumen Wuliji (Lincoln): Small-ruminant production and health
• Dr. Momtanu Chakraborty (NCAT): Precision agriculture, computer systems, and applications
• Dr. Hemanth Narayan Dakshinamurthy (SCSU): Soil-moisture sensing and precision agriculture
• Dr. Ziming Yue (Alcorn): Weed management and crop production

Soil Health and Water Quality

Coordinator: Dr. Janith Chandrasoma

• Dr. Sougata Bardhan: Soil health and conservation practices
• Dr. Dafeng Hui: Soil health modeling and data analysis
• Dr. Resham Thapa: Soil health and crop management
• Dr. Jianwei Li: Soil biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling
• Dr. Reginald Archer: GeoAI and remote sensing
• Dr. Felix Ogunmokun: Soil hydrology and hydrogeophysics
• Dr. Sudipta Rakshit: Soil contaminants and remediation
• Dr. Tom Byl: Water quality and harmful algal blooms
• Dr. Yaw A. Twumasi (SU) : Watershed hydrology and GIS
• Dr. Ajoy Kumar Saha (UAPB): Soil health and water management
• Dr. Suraj Upadhaya (KSU): Sustainable systems and water management
• Dr. Xiaofang Wei (CSU) : GIS, remote sensing, and UAS

Workforce Development

Coordinator/ Lead: Dr. De' Etra Young

• Faculty Development, Training, Research Partnership: Dr. De' Etra Young
• Student Training, Wokshop Coordination: Ms. Tevis Haynie
• Recruitment and Retention: Mr. Micheal Tutt